The FSF within the German media system

Given the constitutional protection of freedom of speech and the ban on censorship, a governmental authority cannot exercise control over content before its publication (Article 5 German Constitution).

The FSF is an independent association which was set up by the private TV channels in 1993 (see history of FSF). The German system for the protection of minors in the media is based on the principle of co-regulation/self-regulation being supervised by another authority.